Hugo Keenan hails Noel McNamara’s ‘incomparable’ rugby knowledge

Keenan described McNamara as a 'student of the game'. "He's so detailed with it, but he doesn't go overboard either," said the Leinster and Ireland full-back. "I know he's a good storyteller and likes to paint a picture as well."

Hugo Keenan played All-Ireland League rugby under incoming Leinster head coach Noel McNamara at UCD. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Hugo Keenan is expecting incoming Leinster head coach Noel McNamara to put his “incomparable” rugby knowledge to excellent use with his own fingerprint when he returns to the province to replace Leo Cullen next season.

The Ireland and British & Irish Lions full-back, preparing for his first home international in 18 months when Argentina visit Aviva Stadium on Friday night, was speaking on the day Leinster announced the appointment of a Clare-born coach whom Keenan believes learned so much from the man he will be replacing when Cullen steps down after 11 years at the helm.

Former teacher McNamara led the Leinster academy and its A team under Cullen between 2015 and 2021 while also becoming a Six Nations Under-20 Grand Slam-winning head coach with Ireland in 2019.

Two seasons as attack coach in South Africa with Sharks led to a switch to France’s Top 14 with Union Bordeaux Begles, whom McNamara has helped win back-to-back Champions Cups in exhilarating fashion, most recently at Leinster’s expense last May.

Keenan played All Ireland League rugby under McNamara at UCD and believes his formative professional coaching years in the province combined with his experiences at the highest level overseas can prove to be a winning combination back for Leinster.

Asked what impressed him about McNamara’s coaching, Keenan listed “his presence amongst the group, he's a very good pre-match speaker, he's well able to motivate lads and pull on the right strings.

“Obviously he's a very attacking and backs mindset as well, so excited to see what he brings. He was brilliant back what, seven/eight years ago when I worked with him in UCD and the A side in the Academy, I was sort of transitioning into a senior then when he came in, but what he's learned in the Sharks and Bordeaux, we all know how well they attack, how exciting their backline is and how successful they've been.

“So I think it's an exciting appointment. It's nice to have somebody who knows Leinster DNA and what they're about but is probably going to put his own fingerprint on it and has lots of experience to back that up.” 

Keenan credited Cullen’s role in helping to develop his successor’s coaching abilities after he joined the province from Clongowes School, but also backed McNamara to make his own imprint on Leinster from next season.

"I'm sure he learnt a lot from Leo during his time in Leinster, being head of the Academy while Leo was head coach.

"Noel probably learnt from him how to deal with players, how to get messages across and things like that. There are similarities.

"But he's his own man. He'll come in and do things his own way, I'm sure.” 

Keenan added: “Once you're in the room with him, his rugby knowledge is incomparable.

"He's been a student of the game, obviously, having worked so long in Clongowes. He loves it. He's so detailed with it, but he doesn't go overboard either. I know he's a good storyteller and likes to paint a picture as well.” 

Keenan also downplayed his future boss’s Munster roots, adding: “I don't think about it that way in my head. I see him as a Leinster man being in the building. I know what he's like, probably Clongowes, UCD, Leinster and then Ireland.

"I'm sure his bias towards Munster is hopefully firmly gone at this stage.”

More immediately, the full-back is looking forward to returning to Aviva Stadium for this month’s Nations Championship homestand of Tests, starting this Friday night against Los Pumas. The 30-year-old made his first Ireland appearances since the 2025 Six Nations during the summer on tour against Australia and New Zealand having returned from the British & Irish Lions series win over the Wallabies in August 2025 with a hip injury. A finger issue saw him miss last season’s Six Nations and Keenan is relishing the opportunity to wear the Ireland jersey in front of home supporters once more.

“Big time. I think it was probably the 2025 Six Nations the last time I played in the Aviva for Ireland. Obviously, there was the Lions tour and then I missed November and then hurt my thumb so I missed the Six Nations.

“I loved being back in the squad for summer against Australia and New Zealand but there's nothing compares to playing at home in front of family, friends, in front of a home support, a packed out Aviva.

“So, yeah, something I'm really excited about. Hopefully, I can put in a performance both individually and as a team that people can be proud of and get behind us for."

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